#great basin national park average temperatures

[wanderlustphotosblog]

Everything You Need to Visit the Great Basin National Park

The diverse landscape of Nevada's incredible Great Basin National Park is home to some of the world's oldest trees. Learn how to plan your trip to see these 4,000-year-old giants with my Great Basin National Park Guide.

[hardynwa]

US heatwave could set new 54C record

Parts of the US are expected to see record temperatures on Sunday, with warnings of "dangerous" heat levels into next week across the south-west. Nearly a third of Americans - about 113 million people - are currently under heat advisories, from Florida to California and up to Washington state. The country's National Weather Service (NWS) has urged people not to underestimate the risk to life. On Saturday, an all-time high of 118F (48C) was recorded in Phoenix, Arizona. It means temperatures have hit 110F (43C) for 16 days running, itself almost a record. Mobile clinics there have reported treating homeless people suffering from third-degree burns. Meanwhile, Death Valley in California - one of the hottest places in the world - is forecast to reach 129F (54C), nearing the hottest temperatures ever reliably recorded on Earth. The NWS has said that local records could also be set on Sunday in the San Joaquin Valley, Mojave Desert, and Great Basin regions. Its Saturday-evening update said the temperatures would "pose a health risk and are potentially deadly to anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration". About 700 people are estimated to die each year from heat-related causes in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In neighbouring Canada, officials say wildfires stoked by above-average temperatures - which have covered parts of the US in smoke - have now burned nearly 10 million hectares (25 million acres) of land. The temperatures in America's south-west are the result of an upper level ridge of high pressure, which typically brings with it warmer temperatures, the NWS said earlier, adding that the heatwave was "one of the strongest" systems of its kind to hit the region. Las Vegas, Nevada, may also match its all-time high of 117F (47C) in the next few days. Weather officials there warned locals who thought they could handle the temperatures that this was "not your typical desert heat". "'It's the desert, of course it's hot'- This is a DANGEROUS mind set!", the NWS in Las Vegas tweeted. "This heatwave is NOT typical desert heat due to its long duration, extreme daytime temperatures, & warm nights. Everyone needs to take this heat seriously, including those who live in the desert." A woman suffering from heat exhaustion is taken into a medical centre in Texas on a gurneyA woman suffering from heat exhaustion is taken into a medical centre in TexasThe NWS also warned that "strong to severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and flooding will be possible in several locations," including America's north-eastern New England region. Parts of the south-western US have already grappled with intensely hot temperatures over the past week. In El Paso, Texas, temperatures have been in the triple-digits Fahrenheit for 27 consecutive days. Air conditioner use in the state has topped its previous record for power consumption as people try to stay cool, while parks, museums and zoos have either closed or shortened their hours Hospitals were also seeing heat-related admissions. "We're getting a lot of heat-related illness now, a lot of dehydration, heat exhaustion," said Dr Ashkan Morim, who works in the emergency room at Dignity Health Siena Hospital, outside of Las Vegas. Overnight temperatures were expected to remain "abnormally warm" in some areas, offering little night-time relief from the heat. The US heatwave mirrors similar searing conditions in Europe, which forced Greece to close one of its major tourist attractions, the Acropolis, on Friday and Saturday. The first week of July saw a global average temperature of 63F (17.23C), according to the UN - the highest ever recorded. Scientists say the temperatures are being driven by climate change and the naturally occurring weather pattern known as El Niño, which happens every three to seven years and causes temperatures to rise. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions. Speaking to the BBC, Paolo Ceppi, a lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London, said higher global temperatures were undoubtedly contributing to the increased incidence of extreme weather. "Of course it's not unusual to have a heatwave in the summer, per se, but what's becoming really unusual is the collection of heatwaves," he said. "We have this event in southern Europe, but at the same time, we're having another major heatwave in the southern US. Recently we had heatwaves in south Asia, India, China and so on. And unfortunately, this is not surprising. "We have the baseline temperatures shifting upwards, and so you are shifting the odds towards more severe extreme events, and fewer cold extreme events." Read the full article

[travelling-world]

The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Day Tour to Death Valley National Park from Las Vegas

What makes Death Valley National Park Unique and Why Visit it?

Death Valley National Park is a unique and breathtaking destination that offers visitors the opportunity to explore one of the most extreme and unusual environments on earth. Here are a few reasons why you should consider visiting:

Unique Geology: Death Valley is home to a variety of unique geological formations, including the Badwater Basin salt flats, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and the colorful hills of Artist's Palette. These formations were created over millions of years of geological activity, and provide a fascinating glimpse into the earth's natural history.

Extreme Environment: Death Valley is one of the hottest places on earth, with summer temperatures often exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The park is also one of the driest places in North America, with annual rainfall averaging less than 2 inches. Despite these extreme conditions, the park is home to a surprising array of plant and animal life that has adapted to the harsh environment.

Stunning Landscapes: The unique geology and extreme environment of Death Valley combine to create some of the most stunning landscapes on earth. From towering mountains to vast salt flats to colorful canyons, the park's scenery is truly awe-inspiring.

Outdoor Recreation: Death Valley National Park offers a variety of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy, including hiking, camping, and stargazing. The park is also home to several historic sites, including abandoned mining towns and the remains of a 20-mule team borax hauling operation.

Dark Sky Designation: Death Valley is one of the few places in the world designated as an International Dark Sky Park, making it an ideal destination for stargazing and astrophotography.

Overall, Death Valley National Park is a unique and unforgettable destination that offers visitors the opportunity to explore a landscape unlike any other. Whether you're interested in geology, outdoor recreation, or simply marveling at the beauty of the natural world, Death Valley is definitely worth a visit.

What are the Best Things to Do & See on a Day Trip to Death Valley?

If you're planning a day trip to Death Valley National Park, there are several must-see attractions and activities that you won't want to miss. Here are some of the best things to do and see:

Badwater Basin: This is the lowest point in North America, located at 282 feet below sea level. The salt flats are a unique and otherworldly landscape that are well worth a visit.

Zabriskie Point: This overlook offers stunning panoramic views of the park's colorful badlands and is a popular spot for photography.

Artist's Palette: This scenic drive takes you through colorful hills that are naturally striped with various hues of red, green, yellow, and purple.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: These dunes are the perfect spot for a hike, sandboarding, or simply taking in the stunning desert scenery.

Dante's View: This viewpoint offers an expansive view of Death Valley from above, providing a great perspective on the park's unique geology.

Ubehebe Crater: This massive volcanic crater is a sight to behold and offers a great opportunity for a short hike.

Harmony Borax Works: This historic site was once a borax-mining operation and offers a fascinating glimpse into the region's industrial past.

Stargazing: Death Valley is a designated International Dark Sky Park, making it a prime spot for stargazing and astrophotography. Be sure to check the park's calendar for upcoming star parties and events.

Overall, a day trip to Death Valley National Park offers the opportunity to experience a unique and otherworldly landscape, explore the region's rich history, and take in some of the most stunning vistas in the American Southwest.

Tips for Planning Your Perfect Day Tour of Death Valley from Las Vegas

Planning a day tour of Death Valley from Las Vegas can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Here are some tips to help you plan your perfect day trip:

Choose the right time of year: Death Valley is known for its extreme heat, so it's important to choose the right time of year for your visit. Spring and fall are generally the best times to visit, as the weather is mild and comfortable.

Book your tour in advance: It's important to book your tour in advance to ensure availability and to secure your preferred tour time and date.

Wear appropriate clothing: Be sure to wear comfortable clothing that is appropriate for the desert environment, including sturdy shoes, a hat, and sunglasses. Bring a light jacket or sweater for cooler morning temperatures.

Stay hydrated: Death Valley is a hot and dry environment, so it's important to bring plenty of water and stay hydrated throughout the day.

Bring snacks: It's a good idea to bring snacks and light refreshments to keep your energy levels up throughout the day.

Charge your devices: Be sure to fully charge your camera, phone, and any other electronic devices before your tour.

Bring cash: Some of the park's facilities, such as the visitor center and some of the campgrounds, only accept cash. Be sure to bring some with you just in case.

Be respectful of the environment: Death Valley is a fragile ecosystem, so it's important to be respectful of the environment during your visit. Stay on designated trails, pack out all of your trash, and be mindful of the wildlife.

By following these tips, you can help ensure a safe and enjoyable day tour of Death Valley National Park from Las Vegas with Mytourstory.

Which Are the Best Tours & Operators for Seeing the Highlights of Death Valley?

There are several tour operators that offer guided tours of Death Valley National Park, each with its own unique itinerary and features. My Tour Story is one of them.My Tour Story offers a variety of guided tours of Death Valley, including a full-day tour that visits some of the park's most iconic attractions such as Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, and Dante's View. They also offer a sunset tour and a stargazing tour that take advantage of the park's status as an International Dark Sky Park.

[exploreneoh]

Lake Erie Seiches

Last weekend, I took a trip to Ashtabula’s Walnut Park Beach after the strong stormfront that produced devastating tornados south of Ohio had passed to see the raging Lake Erie. Wind speeds throughout the region exceeded 60 mph. The National Weather Service issued wind and gale advisories throughout northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania. When my partner and I made it to the shore, we saw waves, at 10 – 15 feet tall, relentlessly slamming into the beach over and over again. The ferocious wind flung wet sand at us, stinging any skin we dared expose in the frigid December temperatures. The wind and waves soaked through our jackets and left us shivering and exhausted from their awesome power. This was not the strongest storm our lake has seen, not even close, and it won’t be the last. With climate change, such intense storms will likely become more common, leading to increased rates of erosion at the lakeshore, degrading existing infrastructure and damaging private property.

Such events are common on Lake Erie and her sister lakes, with the most dramatic and deadly usually occurring on Lake Michigan. A seiche, essentially a standing wave oscillating in a body of water, occurs on Lake Erie when strong sustained winds from the west push water to the east. As a result, water levels in the lake’s western basin drop while water levels in the far east, near Buffalo, rise. A seiche differs from storm surge in that the former is accompanied by “significant changes in atmospheric pressure … generating the oscillation of the water,” unique to seiches (Selbig). According to the US National Weather Service in Cleveland, such events are triggered by west-southwest winds of over 40 mph occurring for a long duration. “Once the wind stops, the seiche sloshes back and forth while it slowly calms down like a bathtub” (NWS). Water levels at Edgewater Beach in Cleveland dropped over two feet below normal levels, following the storm. Conversely, water levels in Buffalo rose much higher than average. Over the next few days, without further agitation, the water levels will rise and fall on either side of the lake, eventually returning to normal.

It is important to keep in mind that these are not the same dramatic tides as those that occur in the oceans. The Lawrentian Great Lakes are simply too small for the forces of the Sum and Moon to significantly affect water levels throughout the lakes. According to Jonathan Selbig at Michigan State University, “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Ocean Service (NOS) have proven that the spring tide, the largest tide on the Great Lakes, is less than two inches.” All other tidal changes affecting the lakes are negligible. They do not greatly affect seiches which occur on the lakes.

One of Lake Erie’s most dramatic seiches occurred in 1844, when, “a 22-foot seiche breach[ed] a 14-foot-high sea wall,” in New York. The surge ultimately killed 78 people. The lake ice, broken by the seiche, was pushed into the Niagara River. Acting as a dam, the roar of Niagara Falls was temporarily silenced as the ice blocked the river, and the falls ceased to flow. In 2008, a less severe storm caused a seiche which triggered significant floods near Buffalo.

Similar weather conditions caused strong waves on Lake Erie yesterday (12/16). It’s important to remember that, although the lakes, especially Erie, look massive, they are small enough that strong weather can greatly affect them. As climate change leads to stronger storms, Lake Erie may experience a greater number of damaging seiches with increased intensity. Above all, we must remember that the Great Lakes are wild and tumultuous places that are always changing. Although awe inspiring and beautiful, the lakes, capable of inflicting significant damage, should be respected.

NOAA's National Weather Service. (n.d.). Great Lakes Portal. Great Lakes. Retrieved December 17, 2021, from https://www.weather.gov/greatlakes/

Selbig, J. (n.d.). Seiches on the Great Lakes. Retrieved December 17, 2021, from https://project.geo.msu.edu/geogmich/seiches.htm

US Department of Commerce, NOAA (2019, March 14). What is a Seiche? NOAA's National Ocean Service. Retrieved December 17, 2021, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/seiche.html

Photo Citations:

Top left and center photos by me - Walnut Park Beach, Ashtabula, OH, 12 Dec. 2021.

Top right and bottom photos from the National Weather Service, Cleveland, OH.

[nishaafricasafaris1]

The Ultimate Secret Ruaha National Park

Ruaha national park is one of the few Tanzania’s famous wilderness area where one can have a rare experience of game viewing spiced up by the fascinating landscape. The park is rich of plants and animals such as Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) which can not be found in any other national park. The park boasts of her almost untouched and unexplored ecosystem, making visitors’ safari experience very unique.

The Great Ruaha River as other rivers like Mwagusi, Jongomero and Mzombe save as the life line of the park. During dry season, these rivers become mostly the main source of water for wildlife. There are few natural springs saving the same purpose.

In the pick of dry season, elephants obtain water from dry sand rivers using their front feet and trunks. The remaining water falls along the Great Ruaha River are also important habitat for hippopotamus, fish and crocodiles.

CLIMATE

Ruaha National Park has a bimodal pattern of rain forest; the short rainfall season begins November to February, while the long season is between March and April. The annual mean rainfall ranges between 500mm-800mm with the average annual temperature of about 280c. The park experiences its dry season between June and October when the temperature at Msembe headquarter reaches 350c.

PARK HISTORY

The park history dates back to 1910 when it was gazetted Saba Game Reserve by the Germany then the name was changed by British to Rungwa Game reseve in 1946. In 1964 the southern portion of the Game was gazetted as Ruaha national park and in 1974 a small section of South Eastern part of the Great Ruaha River was incorporated into the park. The name “Ruaha” originates from the Hehe word “Ruvaha”, which means “river”. Ruaha National Park is part of Rungwa-Kizigo –Muhesi ecosystem which covers more than 45000km2. In 2008 Usangu game Reserve and other important wetlands in Usangu basin have been annexed into the park, making it the largest park in Tanzania and East Africa with an area of about 20226km2.

PARKS SIGNIFICANCE

Ruaha National Park has a high diversity of plants and animals including elephants, buffalos, antelopes and some of rare and endangered species like wild dogs. The park serves as water shade both for wildlife and human being. This makes it to be economically significant as it supports agricultural activities down stream and contributes to hydro- electric power (HEP) for the country at Mtera and Kidatu dams.

TOURISM ATTRACTIONS

Birds

The park is one of the Tanzania birds’ paradise with more than 571species and some of them are known to be migrants from within and outside Africa. Migrating species from Europe, Asia, Australian rim and Madagascar have been recorded in the park. Species of interest in the park include Ruaha red-billed hornbill (Tokus ruahae) which is dominant in the area. The recently annexed wetland, the Usangu basin is one of the country’s important bird area (IBA) as recognized by Birdlife International. Though birds can be seen all the year around, the best time for bird watching is during the wet season.

Animals

Ruaha is believed to have high concentration of elephants than any national park in East Africa. It is also a place where, magnificent mammals like Kudu (both Greater and Lesser), Sable and Roan antelopes can easily be spotted in Miombo woodland. The male Kudu have beautiful spiraled horns while male Sable antelope have impressive curved horns. The park is also a habitat for endangered wild dogs. Other animals in the park include lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffes, zebras, elands, impala, bat eared foxes and Jackals.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Apart from large animals, the park also harbors a number of reptiles and amphibians such as crocodiles, poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, monitor lizards, agama lizards and frogs. The Great Ruaha and Mzombe rivers are presumably the most preferred habitat for crocodiles.

Vegetation

The park is characterized by semi-arid type of vegetation, baobab trees, Acacia and other species. There are over 1650 plant species that have been identified. The park is the transitional point of two vegetation zones, the Zambezian (characterized by Miombo vegetation) and Sudanian (characterized by Acacia vegetation).

Historical and cultural sites

There are several historical and cultural sites in the park which offer a visitor a chance to explore the Southern Tanzanian tribes. The early trade routes used by the Arab caravan crossed here. In 1830 these coastal traders expanded their routes northward, and in year 1857 to 1858 other European explorers such as Burton and Speke used these routes too. Chief Mkwawa used the same routes to visit his chiefdoms in Sangu and Gogo.

The park area often hailed as the land of the brave Chief Mkwawa, the Chief of the hehe people who resisted against the German attack in the late 19th century. The fierce and successful battle tactics against the German invasion made the Hehe tribe famous in the Southern highland of the then Tanganyika (Tanzania). The Hehe tribe under the leadership of chief Mkwawa was dominant around the Ruaha area. Some of the outcrops in the area are known as hiding places of chief Mkwawa who went into hiding after the fall of his empire (kalenga) to the German in 1894.

In brief, it is believed that, this ancient land (Ruaha National Park) holds many secrets of chief Mkwawa.

Some of the cultural sites that were used for rituals are “Ganga la Mafunyo”, Nyanywa and Chahe, Painting rock at Nyanywa, the “Gogo”  chief “Mapenza” grave at Mpululu and “Mkwawa” spring area believed to be used by Chief Mkwawa. Other historical sites near the park include Isimila pillars near Iringa town, Kalenga, Mlambalasi, Lugalo and God’s bridge just to mention a few.

[solsarin]

how many percent of freshwater resides in glaciers

how many percent of freshwater resides in glaciers

Hello dear friends, thank you for choosing us. In this post on the solsarin site, we will talk about ” how many percent of freshwater resides in glaciers “. Stay with us. Thank you for your choice.

How much of the Earth’s water is stored in glaciers?

About 2.1% of all of Earth’s water is frozen in glaciers.

97.2% is in the oceans and inland seas

2.1% is in glaciers

0.6% is in groundwater and soil moisture

About three-quarters of Earth’s freshwater is stored in glaciers. Therefore, glacier ice is the second largest reservoir of water on Earth and the largest reservoir of freshwater on Earth!

What is the difference between global warming and climate change?Although people tend to use these terms interchangeably, global warming is just one aspect of climate change. “Global warming” refers to the rise in global temperatures due mainly to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. “Climate change” refers to the increasing changes in the measures of climate over a long period…Which mountain in the conterminous U.S. has the most glaciers?Mount Rainier, Washington, at 14,410 feet (4,393 meters), the highest peak in the Cascade Range, is a dormant volcano whose glacier ice cover exceeds that of any other mountain in the conterminous United States. Mount Rainier has approximately 26 glaciers. It contains more than five times the glacier area of all the other Cascade volcanoes…

How old is glacier ice?The age of the oldest glacier ice in Antarctica may approach 1,000,000 years old The age of the oldest glacier ice in Greenland is more than 100,000 years old The age of the oldest Alaskan glacier ice ever recovered (from a basin between Mt. Bona and Mt. Churchill) is about 30,000 years old. Glacier flow moves newly formed ice through the entire…Where are glaciers found in continental North America?Glaciers exist in both the United States and Canada. Most U.S. glaciers are in Alaska; others can be found in Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nevada (Wheeler Peak Glacier in Great Basin National Park). Utah’s Timpanogos Glacier is now a rock glacier (in which the ice is hidden by rocks), and Idaho’s Otto Glacier has…Where are Earth’s glaciers located?Glaciers exist on every continent except Australia. Approximate distribution is: 91% in Antarctica 8% in Greenland Less than 0.5% in North America (about 0.1% in Alaska) 0.2% in Asia Less than 0.1% are in South America, Europe, Africa, New Zealand, and Irian Jaya.How would sea level change if all glaciers melted?There is still some uncertainty about the full volume of glaciers and ice caps on Earth, but if all of them were to melt, global sea level would rise approximately 70 meters (approximately 230 feet), flooding every coastal city on the planet. Learn more: USGS Water Science School: Glaciers and Icecaps National Snow and Ice Data Center: Facts about…What are the impacts of glacier loss, other than losing an aesthetic landscape feature?Glaciers act as reservoirs of water that persist through summer. Continual melt from glaciers contributes water to the ecosystem throughout dry months, creating perennial stream habitat and a water source for plants and animals. The cold runoff from glaciers also affects downstream water temperatures. Many aquatic species in mountainous…What is a glacier?A glacier is a large, perennial accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, rock, sediment, and often liquid water that originates on land and moves down slope under the influence of its own weight and gravity. Typically, glaciers exist and may even form in areas where: mean annual temperatures are close to the freezing point winter precipitation…

Facts about glaciers

Presently, 10 percent of land area on Earth is covered with glacial ice, including glaciers, ice caps, and the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica. Glacierized areas cover over 15 million square kilometers (5.8 million square miles).

Glaciers store about 69 percent of the world’s fresh water.

During the maximum point of the last ice age, glaciers covered about 32 percent of the total land area.

Starting around the early 14th century, and lasting to the mid-19th century, the world experienced a “Little Ice Age,” when temperatures were consistently cool enough for glaciers to advance in many areas of the world.

In the United States

In the United States, glaciers cover over 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 square miles). Most of those glaciers are located in Alaska, which holds 87,000 square kilometers (34,000 square miles) of glacial ice.

If all land ice melted, sea level would rise approximately 70 meters (230 feet) worldwide.

Glacier ice

Glacier ice crystals can grow to be as large as baseballs.

Glacial ice often appears blue when it has become very dense and free of bubbles. Years of compression gradually make the ice denser over time, forcing out the tiny air pockets between crystals. When glacier ice becomes extremely dense, the ice absorbs a small amount of red light, leaving a bluish tint in the reflected light, which is what we see. When glacier ice is white, that usually means that there are many tiny air bubbles still in the ice.

North America’s longest glacier is the Bering Glacier in Alaska, measuring 190 kilometers (118 miles) long.

The Kutiah Glacier

The Kutiah Glacier in Pakistan holds the record for the fastest glacial surge. In 1953, it raced more than 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) in three months, averaging about 112 meters (367 feet) per day.

In Washington State, the state with the largest area of glaciers in the contiguous United States, melting glaciers provide 1.8 trillion liters (470 billion gallons) of water each summer.

The largest glacier in the world is the Lambert-Fisher Glacier in Antarctica. At 400 kilometers (250 miles) long, and up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) wide, this ice stream alone drains about 8 percent of the Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Glacier

A glacier (US: /ˈɡleɪʃər/ or UK: /ˈɡlæsiər, ˈɡleɪsiər/) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. Glaciers slowly deform and flow under stresses induced by their weight, creating crevasses, seracs, and other distinguishing features. They also abrade rock and debris from their substrate to create landforms such as cirques, moraines, or fjords. Glaciers form only on land and are distinct from the much thinner sea ice and lake ice that forms on the surface of bodies of water.

Etymology and related terms

The word glacier is a loanword from French and goes back, via Franco-Provençal, to the Vulgar Latin glaciārium, derived from the Late Latin glacia, and ultimately Latin glaciēs, meaning “ice”.[8] The processes and features caused by or related to glaciers are referred to as glacial. The process of glacier establishment, growth and flow is called glaciation. The corresponding area of study is called glaciology. Glaciers are important components of the global cryosphere.

Classification by size, shape and behaviorFurther information: Glacier morphology

Glaciers are categorized by their morphology, thermal characteristics, and behavior. Alpine glaciers form on the crests and slopes of mountains. A glacier that fills a valley is called a valley glacier, or alternatively an alpine glacier or mountain glacier.[9] A large body of glacial ice astride a mountain, mountain range, or volcano is termed an ice cap or ice field.[10] Ice caps have an area less than 50,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi) by definition.

resource: wikipedia

[mypubliclands]

This year’s Bat Blitz in Nevada

Over 12 species were identified during this year's Bat Blitz. Each year the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the National Park Service, Nevada Natural Heritage Program, the U.S. Forest Service and the Great Basin Institute team up to trap bats. The goal is to learn more about the health and diversity of the bat species in the state. Kelsey Retich is a Wildlife Biologist in the Southern Nevada District in Las Vegas. Here, she provides her personal experience of the event.

"The two times I have had the privilege to attend the annual Nevada Bat Blitz have been amazing! They have been the highlights of my 1 ½ years at the Bureau of Land Management in Southern Nevada. Between getting to see these amazing mammals up close and meeting all of the incredible people that attend the event, nothing else compares.

A typical day during the Bat Blitz is trying to get as much sleep as you can during the day which is always tricky while camping because of the sunlight beating down on your tent. Luckily both Bat Blitzes I have attended have been at high elevations to the temperatures are much cooler than an average August day in Nevada.

Around 4:00 pm, the whole group of biologists from the different agencies get together and groups for the night are assigned. Shortly after that we head out to our assigned sites for the night. Upon arrival to the site, we evaluate the best placement for our nets to catch bats and then begin our set up. After set up is complete, you wait. You are waiting for the first bat of the night to fly over your head or for one to be picked up on the acoustic equipment. Once that happens, the real fun begins.

On a very busy night nets are opened and it is non-stop for the 4-5 hour period that we are trapping bats. Other nights there isn't much activity and you sit around in your group bundled up in jackets and blankets and play games or tell stories while occasionally checking the nets. As any good biologist knows the times with no activity or very little activity is still data worth collecting!

When there is a lot of bat activity, there is always something to do. For those who have proper training, they are working on getting bats out of the nets and quickly "processing", or taking data on the bats and then releasing them. Measurements that are taken include age, gender, reproductive status, forearm length, teeth wear and weight.

Before attending the Bat Blitz, I knew a little bit about bats but I admit I did not know much. After attending the Bat Blitz I can say confidently that I would be able to identify species that are found in Nevada quite easily. I learned so much about bats from the many experienced bat biologists that participated in the event."

[sedonabesthikes]

Sedona, Arizona - Land of Natural Beauty

If folks think of Arizona family vacation spots, the standard idea is always to see the Grand Canyon, the golfing resorts of Scottsdale, or even the old okay Corral in Tombstone. Few consider Sedona things to do, Arizona - we all think about this Arizona's best kept secret. As Arizona natives, we all assure that if you take a trip to Sedona, then it is likely to soon be one of the absolute most unforgettable vacations you will ever take. The probable experiences, attractions, and excursions are endless. Whether you are looking for a relaxing place to unwind, some amazing photo opportunities, or to get nearer to nature and find out about yourself, Sedona retains the key to what you are on the lookout for in a vacation. Full of history and culture, you will unwind and learn all at the same moment. Knowing a little more about its history will guarantee that you completely take advantage of all this area offers, together with prepare yourself for the adventures you are interested in. Nature fans will fully be in their element here.

 Sedona is nestled in Arizona's high desert, situated beneath the towering vertical border of the mighty Colorado Plateau. It is ideal as a traveling destination as it usually has four gentle seasons with plenty of sunshine, fresh atmosphere, and natural splendor. Even the annual average low and high temperatures are normally 74.7 and 45.7 degrees, respectively. The town of Sedona straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties at the northern Verde Valley region of Arizona. At the time of 2010, the U.S. census says which the population is slightly more than 10,000. The main attractions attract folks from all over the globe to go through the historical natural attractiveness and stone formations calendar year after year. Sedona stands together of our nation's most ordinary, magnificent beauties and a national landmark we must be pleased to call one of our own. Atypical of some "tourist traps", Sedona is filled of hospitality, among the better features of one of its own founders.

 Geologically speaking, most people know that Sedona is full of shade and comprises rock formations for example nowhere else within such a particular nation. But most people do not realize that Sedona's heritage goes roughly five hundred million years when it began to sort. Within a period of time of about 300 million decades , it is said that the land has been sea bottom and coastal basic. It was then that sedimentary levels of buttery shaped. Geologists and paleontologists describe that between 200 and 65 million years ago, dinosaurs used to roam this very land. From sixty five to 20 million years before, there were also key uplifts in southern Arizona, along with down faulting and end erosion on northern Arizona. From 20 to 12 million decades past, volcanic action was started to cause the Verde Valley to down fault to some profound basin with many lakebeds, generating that which we know now while the Mogollon Rim. About 3 million decades past, the Colorado Plateau uplifted way too. Ever since then, erosion from rain and snow melt has created Oak Creek Canyon and subjected the layers of sediment (Schnebly Hill Formation sandstone) to produce the wonderful red rock formations. Wildlife and fauna escalated and evolved as a result. This process still persists today, however very slowly and also the changes aren't visible to people.

 Are you really currently a history buff? Nicely, human prehistory began here about 4000 years BC when hunter gatherers roamed and settled in the Verde Valley and Prescott areas. Among 900 and 1350 ADa advanced culture began building pueblos and cliff properties as a lot people remember reading in the history novels. Known as the Sinagua men and women, they've been successful in farming, actually had an comprehension of astronomy, also made products like baskets, jewelry and pottery. Additionally they generated transaction paths with the people of this Pacific shore, Mexico and also Central America. Archaeological signs in Sedona's immediate area is just few and far in between, however a few fine pots, some stone baskets and tools are found near. (The pueblo builders had proceeded on by 1400 advert as stated by historians, that had been roughly the same period that the Yavapai and Apache peoples began to move in the region.)

 Closer historically is still your narrative of the way Sedona it self came to be. According to historians within the area, it was called after Theodore Carl Schnebly and his wife, Sedona, that transferred into the Sedona location from Gorin, Missouri. A number of families living there persuaded T.C. to create a pole off ice out of the dwelling, that had become the community's lodge. He can have advised initially to the government to mention the article office Schnebly Station or even Red Rock Crossing. However, he was told that the names were too much time, also following a suggestion by his brother,'' Dorsey Ellsworth Schnebly, he submitted his own spouse's name, Sedona. And so that it was understood as such. It had been likewise said this woman, Sedona, was a exact hospitable woman.

 Many men and women realize that Sedona, strategically situated in the mouth of magnificent Oak Creek Canyon, is a unique place. Founded by gigantic red-rock formations, and the are as of Oak Creek Canyon, the area encompassing this cherished community is considered at the very least as beautiful because most national parks. The city of Sedona, one among Arizona's most popular spots for tourism, recreation, hotel, retirement and art facilities, was formally incorporated in 1988. Before then, it turned into a rural ranching group situated off the beaten path, but its own striking natural beauty and landmarks became nationally understood through the movie market. Today, commercials and television shows continue to be filmed at the areas surrounding this metropolis because of their beauty, which will be claimed to draw in more than four thousand tourists each year from around the world.

 Because with the natural elegance, there is merely too far to take in on your journey into Sedona. Energetic or not, this place will motivate one to get going, go on trips, and station your own artistic side. It could look complicated to pack all that Sedona provides while the appeals really are apparently endless. The region's year-round beauty usually means that you can pay a visit to some instance of this calendar year, working around your timetable unlike a number of other family vacation destinations. External tasks are located from the natural elegance of the location. By biking, biking, photography, or guided plane excursions, Sedona has so much to give. It would be potential to devote a few weeks simply visiting hidden canyons, sacred sites, or reddish rock trails to call only a few.

 According to the "stop by Sedona" website, "Along with enjoying the outdoors, you will find lots of different things to accomplish in Sedona. Sedona activities include seeing galleries and attending displays, musical and theatrical props, private and spiritual enrichment activities, yearly festivals and lots of group events" Those tasks are fantastic for intimate getaways, family holidays, or even holy journeys. Young and old would enjoy the attractions for a weekend or even weeks - it's all up for you personally!

 Additionally, there are lots of other neighboring locales that supply extra appeals to this Sedona visitor. Owing to Its location, additional tourist (and hidden) regions include the Grand Canyon, Page, Lake Powell, Flagstaff, and Jerome in the Verde Valley. Not exactly 100,000 visitors test out the Douglas Mansion in Jerome, Arizona each year to learn about mining background and also the geology of the quaint little city. The youngsters will probably be fascinated with the excursions, lessons, and experiences you could talk about as a family group room. The Douglas Mansion, also called Jerome State Historic Park, lets for stunning scenic photos, historical exhibits, along with also an engaging online video demonstration for youth and older folks. The movie presentation clarifies what existence inside this city was like straight back in days to be truly a flourishing mining city. Greater than just a museum, it's also an architectural landmark in the National Register of Historic sites. When it was built in 1916, the Douglas Mansion has been the most impressive dwelling in town, perhaps even among the most striking historic households in all of Arizona. James Stuart Douglas, the owner of the Small Daisy Mine, wished a massive residence to amuse his "industrial mining and family officials" Kid-friendly strategy? Make the trip a scavenger hunt and Hunt for these 10 objects suggested by experts:

 Bitters bottles

 Drilling system

 Griffin in Great Britain's House of Commons, which has been introduced to James Douglas' son (Lewis) if he had been ambassador to Great Britain in the 1940s

 Fluorescent stone screen

 French china Copa which James Douglas gave to Aurelia Gonzales

 Model railroad

 Ore-grinding arista machine that goes back to the Middle East

 Photograph of this Montana Lodge, in once the most luxurious resort in Arizona

 Three-dimensional model of Jerome in 1937, that demonstrates its underground mines, for example error activity along with dug out locations.

 Whether you are searching for busy trips among several America's most impressive all-natural rock formations, or even seeking private enrichment from your culture and history Sedona offers, you will discover everything you are searching for in the place. Sedona actually is understood through the earth for a place of religious healing and global strength, attracting individuals from all around the planet here since when it really were a mecca. Mother Nature has dedicated Sedona being a place of immense natural beauty, life-transforming websites, and individual growth. The Sedona Metaphysical Spiritual Association is still a useful source for asking regarding the spiritual facet of Sedona. Hike, ride bicycles, choose a guided air plane tour, shoot images, adhere to tours, explore hidden canyons, rock climb, go to a spa, play golf, horseback rideand see a museum, visit a brief history demonstration, also meet one your life many memorable beaches here at Sedona.

[sciencespies]

Los Angeles may store water under a lake drained to fill its faucets

https://sciencespies.com/environment/los-angeles-may-store-water-under-a-lake-drained-to-fill-its-faucets/

Los Angeles may store water under a lake drained to fill its faucets

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Quick shifts in climate have prompted Los Angeles to consider an unlikely place to bank some of its Sierra Nevada snowmelt: beneath dry Owens Lake, which the city drained starting in 1913 to fill the L.A. Aqueduct and supply a thirsty metropolis.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has launched studies of ambitious plans to store water in the lake’s underground aquifer so that it could be pumped up in summer months and drought years to create pools of water to limit the dust sweeping across the vast lakebed’s salt flats.

The idea, DWP officials said in recent interviews, is to create a drought insurance plan by injecting water from the aqueduct, or percolating runoff in unusually wet years, down into the natural subterranean reservoir they believe is capable of holding up to 250,000 acre-feet of water.

DWP ratepayers have already spent at least $1.4 billion for vegetation, gravel, furrowing and shallow flooding that have reduced dust pollution by more than 99% – the largest dust mitigation effort in the United States. Each year, that project uses about 60,000 acre-feet of water worth about $42 million, officials said.

An acre-foot equals about 326,000 gallons, or enough water to cover a football field one foot deep. An average household annually uses about an acre-foot of water for indoor and outdoor use.

“If the plans work out,” Anselmo Collins, water operations manager for the DWP, said, “we could save between 4,000 and 7,000 acre-feet of water lost to evaporation each year after it is spread on the lake bed to suppress dust.”

The stored water would not be put back into the aqueduct, he said, because it would have been mixed with aquifer water, which is briny and contains elevated levels of naturally occurring contaminants, including arsenic. Collins said the proposed plumbing systems for banking and spreading water at Owens Lake would be based on hydrological and forecast data, as well as abrupt climate shifts such as the unusually heavy 2017 rains that ended the worst five-year drought in recorded California history.

Collins cautioned it will probably take several years to implement one or both water banking strategies.

“We have to make sure that pumping groundwater will not adversely affect vegetation, wildlife or wells in the area,” Collins said. “But top climatologists are telling us that changes in infrastructure are needed to prepare for the kinds of climate shifts predicted in their computer models.”

Extreme weather conditions are making it increasingly difficult for Los Angeles to meet state and federal requirements and court settlements in its highly litigated Sierra watershed.

Recent scientific studies point to meteorological trends likely to accelerate in decades to come: Temperatures are warming, Sierra snowpack is getting smaller and melting earlier in the year, and less winter precipitation is arriving as snow in the first place.

The implications stretch from Owens Lake north to Mono Lake, the high-desert water body east of Yosemite National Park best known for its towering, craggy tufa formations. Scientists say climatic shifts are bringing less snowmelt to Mono Lake.

That means if Los Angeles keeps taking its allocated share in the Mono Basin, it could lead to a decline in lake levels, threatening habitat for migrating birds and increasing health risks for those exposed to windblown dust from the receding shoreline, according to the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District.

Phillip Kiddoo, air pollution control officer at Great Basin, expressed cautious optimism about the proposals. “Managing water in the eastern Sierra Nevada concerns me greatly,” he said. “We’ve all learned a hard lesson in this area over the years: All changes are risky and likely to produce unanticipated results.”

Critics say the DWP’s diversions after the turn of the last century helped set the stage for major air pollution problems at Mono Lake and at Owens Lake, about 140 miles to the south.

In the early 1900s city agents posed as ranchers and farmers to buy land and water rights. Then the DWP built dams and diversions that drained Owens Lake and made it all but impossible for the region’s ranchers and farmers to make a living.

Dramatized in the classic 1974 film “Chinatown,” the water grab also transformed local business owners into lessees paying rent to an overbearing landlord 180 miles to the south.

Separately, a new concern is unfolding about 50 miles to the south in the high desert community of Ridgecrest. There, the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority holds the distinction of managing one of the most critically overdrawn groundwater basins in California—and of further depleting the aquifer by yielding to the demands of clients, including local pistachio growers.

Now, the authority is trying to prevent a potential takeover by state water officials, who say the groundwater authority must devise a long-term strategy of sustaining the aquifer in order to comply with state law. To meet that goal, it has proposed that the DWP build a 10-mile spur to divert aqueduct water into its troubled aquifer.

By way of payment for the water banking service, the authority would keep a small portion of the city’s water. In previous interviews, authority officials said a major obstacle standing in the way of such an agreement with the DWP would be the predictable public outcry over the unprecedented giveaway of city water conveyed by its legendary aqueduct.

Collins acknowledged that his agency “was approached by Indian Wells, but there hasn’t been an agreement made or formal proposal presented.”

Explore further

How are local dry lakes impacting air quality and human health?

©2019 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Citation: Los Angeles may store water under a lake drained to fill its faucets (2019, December 29) retrieved 30 December 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2019-12-los-angeles-lake-faucets.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

#Environment

[j0sgomez-blog]

[Michael Lanza note: The following are my responses, updated 4/21/19, to inquiries from readers with specific questions about backpacking the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park, including how to do it, the best campsites, and what to bring. See also my story American Classic: Backpacking the Teton Crest Trail and my e-guide The Complete Guide to Backpacking the Teton Crest Trail.]

Michael,

Thank you for making something so useful as The Big Outside. The website is not only a great resource for useful information but also does such a great job of communicating your passion for the outdoors. In that spirit, I am taking my son to hike the Teton Crest Trail in early July this summer and I had a couple questions.

We will be a group of eight fathers and sons and are staying at the group sites in Middle Fork Granite Canyon, Marion Lake, Death Canyon Shelf, and South Fork Cascade Canyon. After reading your article on packing light, I am wondering if this trip can be done with a one-liter bottle. At that time of year, are there typically enough water sources to allow me to leave the two- or three-liter hydration bladder at home and just take a couple liter bottles? Also, regarding water filters, is there a lightweight one your would recommend for this particular trip?

Also, after reading about the possible side hike to Static Peak, I am wondering if that is doable after waking up from our Death Canyon Shelf campsite. One of the group suggested that it would be easier to do the Static Peak side hike if we skipped camping on the shelf (which I don’t want to do) and instead spent out second night in Alaska Basin. I was hoping for some advice because I would really like to do that side hike from the Death Canyon Group site. I am also wondering if doing the hike and then camping at South Fork Cascade Canyon group site is too much mileage for one day. That said, everyone in our group is in at least average physical shape.

Be well and I look forward to reading about your family’s future adventures!

Best, Jeff Gilbert, AZ

Campsite on Death Canyon Shelf, Grand Teton National Park.

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the nice words about my blog. Good on you for planning a Teton Crest Trail hike with your son, it’s a favorite of mine and we had a great time backpacking it with our kids. You’ll find numerous articles with useful information about the Teton Crest Trail at this blog.

If you’re going in early July, be aware that there’s normally snow at high passes then, possibly making some of them unsafe, although the primary concern would be Paintbrush Divide, and you could finish down Cascade Canyon instead when hiking south to north (and maybe you’re already planning on that). If you can’t or aren’t hiking over Paintbrush Divide, though, you might think about making the side trip out-and-back up the North Fork of Cascade Canyon to Lake Solitude, anyway, because the North Fork is a gem. You might even try adding another night to your itinerary and camping in the North Fork backcountry camping zone. From there, it’s an easy, downhill and flat hike of just a few hours to the Jenny Lake boat dock.

As for water, the Teton Crest Trail does stay pretty high, and you may find yourself hiking stretches of two hours or more between water sources, and longer than that if you make the side trip to Static Peak. You have basically two hours or more of hiking between each of these water sources: Marion Lake, the springs/streams on Death Canyon Shelf, and Alaska Basin. Then Sunset Lake sits about halfway through a stretch of 2-3 hours from Alaska Basin to upper South Fork Cascade Canyon.

The question of how much water to carry partly depends on your hiking pace, but early-morning departures, in cool temps, help keep your water needs lower. I also make a habit of chugging plenty of water when treating or filtering at a water source (and encouraging others to do the same), so that you leave it well hydrated (following the maxim that it’s better to carry water in your belly than on your back). When my kids were little, I let them carry one liter and I’d carry extra.

I typically carry a bladder for convenience while hiking, putting as much water in it as needed between sources, but I also carry a bottle because it’s convenient in camp and sometimes to help fill the bladder. I’d recommend either my system, or choosing between a bladder or two liter bottles, and focusing your efforts at lightening your pack on your gear and food. At those moderately high elevations, you may not feel well if you get dehydrated. I’ve found that the combination of elevation and dehydration can hit kids harder than adults. Besides, an extra bottle and a bladder don’t weigh much.

Click here now to get my e-guide The Complete Guide to Backpacking the Teton Crest Trail.

  Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. Please follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

  Death Canyon, Grand Teton National Park.

As for a water filter, especially for a group, I’ve come to really like gravity filters like the Katadyn Base Camp Pro 10L gravity filter, the MSR Trail Base Water Filter Kit, and the Platypus GravityWorks filter because they’re reliable and do most of the work for you (and they work best with clear, unsilted water, like you usually find in the mountains). I also love the convenience and quickness of using a water bottle filter like the LifeStraw Go. I often carry both types of filters when backpacking.

The side trip to Static Peak is roughly five miles round-trip from Alaska Basin, which for most groups is two to three hours. If you’re doing it from Death Canyon Shelf, depending on where you’re camping on the Shelf, add at least four round-trip miles to that distance. It only makes sense to make that side hike from Alaska Basin, where you could stash your packs. (See my tips in “The Fine Art of Stashing a Backpack in the Woods.”) I’d say it’s possible to do that on the day you hike from the Shelf to South Fork Cascade Canyon, but I would be sure everyone’s up for a day that could stretch to 10 hours or more, and I’d get an early start. That said, Static Peak is really nice, and the trail leading to it from Alaska Basin has great views and feels very remote. Logistically, it does make more sense to camp in Alaska Basin if you want to make the side trip to Static Peak, and it’s certainly reasonable to hike from Marion Lake to Alaska Basin in a day. But the Shelf has some of the best campsite views in the park.

I recommend changing your itinerary, if possible. From Middle Fork Granite Canyon to Marion Lake is at most two hours of hiking. You could eat lunch at Marion Lake and camp on the Shelf that night. Then plan to reach Alaska Basin by late morning the next day, set up camp to spend the night there, and dayhike to Static Peak that afternoon. Then hike to South Fork Cascade the following day. The only other option I can think of, that doesn’t include camping in Alaska Basin, is that you could camp as far north on the Shelf as possible, to position yourself for an early start and a side hike to Static Peak the next day. Tough choices, I know.

Best, Michael

I’ve helped many readers plan an unforgettable backpacking trip on the Teton Crest Trail. Want my help with yours? Find out more here.

A backpacker on the Teton Crest Trail on Death Canyon Shelf.

Michael,

Wow. What an incredibly generous response from you. There are many people like me who are trying to make trips like this happen but are by no means experts. The last thing a dad like me wants to do is take our kids to a great place but then compromise the experience due to bad planning or decisions. Not only is your blog incredibly helpful, but the fact that you take the time to personally reach out to us less experienced but well meaning family adventurers really puts what you are doing over the top.

Your response was really helpful. The national park actually left me a voicemail the other day letting me know that there will be snow on those passes and that we will need ice axes. Because of your advice, we are going to try and schedule a day of high mountain hiking training with Exum Mountain Guides the day or two before we begin the hike. We are hoping this training will be sufficient? I’ll let you know how our hike turns out!

I turned my brother-in-law on to your site and he wound up buying your book and is inspired to take his young kids on national park adventures. At the end of the day, that is what it is all about.

Best, Jeff

The Big Outside helps you find the best adventures. Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-guide!

South Fork Cascade Canyon, Grand Teton National Park.

Hi Jeff,

The park appropriately warns people of the good possibility of snow at high passes in early July. (The photo above was taken in upper South Fork Cascade Canyon in the first half of August a few years ago.) It’s possible you’ll see an unusual year and the passes will be largely free of snow, or at least safely passable. On the other hand, the day of training with Exum will certainly give you all an introduction to valuable skills that you may use many times.

Still, my advice would be to find out all you can from backcountry rangers (or Exum guides) about snow conditions in the high passes right before your trip starts. If there’s a lot of firm snow remaining, and temperatures are near or below freezing at night, it could pose a risky situation for people who are new to snow travel in the mountains. If hikers and backpackers have created a trough through the snow at the passes, and the snow is softening up by late morning, it may be safe for your group. The Exum guides will probably be able to give you some good advice on whether to go. You can always change your itinerary and find safe trails to hike.

Good luck. Thanks for sharing my blog with others. Please tell your brother-in-law I hope he enjoys my book and I’d love to hear what he thinks of it. Get in touch anytime.

Best, Michael

Why is this trail such a classic? Read the “5 Reasons You Must Backpack the Teton Crest Trail.”

Paintbrush Divide, Grand Teton National Park.

Hi Michael,

A friend of mine and I are hiking the 40-mile Teton Crest Trail this fall and wonder what direction you would recommend hiking the trail. I’ve heard that south to north is nice. Also, if we take the tram from Jackson Hole Resort up the mountain, are there multiple spots to get on trail or just the one at Rendezvous Mountain? Will the entire trail take us right back to where we began?

Thanks so much for your help. Any other advice would be welcomed!

Warmly, Jill

P.S. Bear spay is expensive, is there a place to get it for less than $50?

Click here now to get my e-guide to the best beginner-friendly backpacking trip in Grand Teton National Park.

Hi Jill,

Thanks for writing. You’ll love the Teton Crest Trail. I would definitely hike it south to north, because the views keep getting better; plus, you’ll see a quieter, less busy area of the Tetons first, before you get into the heart of the Tetons, where there are a bit more people.

There are numerous places to start, including the very southern end of the Teton Crest Trail, just east of Teton Pass. I’ve started there, at Death Canyon Trailhead a few times, and also hiked up Open Canyon over Mount Hunt Divide, and hiked in Granite Canyon. They’re all nice, and I’d start in one of them as opposed to the very southern end of the range, just because those canyons are more scenic than the southern end. I guess I’d say Death Canyon is the prettiest, especially in the wildflower meadows near the head of the canyon, on the way up to Fox Creek Pass. But you’ll see the fewest people in Open Canyon and over Mount Hunt Divide to upper Granite Canyon.

Backpackers on the Teton Crest Trail above the Schoolroom Glacier and South Fork Cascade Canyon.

I’ve not taken the tram up Rendezvous, but there’s a trail leading from there into Granite Canyon; it drops about 1,500 feet and I’ve read that the distance from the top of the tram to Marion Lake is a bit over six miles.

You should definitely plan on camping a night on Death Canyon Shelf.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen bear spray for under $50. Having had a close encounter with a grizzly sow with cubs (luckily, it was uneventful, and we didn’t even have to deploy our pepper spray), I wills say that pepper spray doesn’t seem very expensive when you find yourself in a situation of needing to use it.

Good luck, let me know how it goes for you. September is a great time in the Tetons, with far fewer people, if that’s when you’re going.

Best, Michael

A trip like this goes better with the right gear. See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The 5 Best Backpacking Tents.”

The North Fork of Cascade Canyon, Grand Teton National Park.

Michael,

Really enjoy your website, thanks for all the info. Have a question for you about the Teton Crest Trail. I know it is first come in the camping zones, but I was wondering if you know what specific spots in the camping zones have the best views from camp or the best views right next to camp.

We plan on staying on Death Canyon Shelf zone, in the North Fork and South Fork of Cascade Canyon, as well as either Upper or Lower Paintbrush Canyon. Any help you could give on specific spots within those zones would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Justin Lexington, KY

[Submitted via message at facebook.com/TheBigOutside]

Plan your next great backpacking adventure in Grand Teton and other flagship parks using my expert e-guides.

South Fork Cascade Canyon, Grand Teton National Park.

Hi Justin,

You’re taking one of my favorite backpacking trips.

Anywhere you camp on Death Canyon Shelf is fantastic; closer to one of the small creeks is more convenient, but the views are good everywhere up there, and parties are usually spread out.

The South Fork and North Fork of Cascade Canyon are both popular and the best sites often get grabbed by afternoon. I like the sites at the upper end of South Fork, near the junction with the spur trail to Avalanche Divide (a very worthy side hike); and there’s another in lower South Fork with a ledge overlooking the canyon (photo at right). But you won’t get a bad site in South Fork, and some have bear boxes, which are convenient for food storage. Same with North Fork, although there are really nice sites in lower North Fork, with huge boulders framing the site and a killer view down canyon of the Grand Teton.

As for Paintbrush Canyon, I think the best views are in Upper instead of Lower Paintbrush.

Late July is a good time, though you may see afternoon thunderstorms. It’s very unlikely you would find the Teton Crest Trail impassable at the end of July. Paintbrush Divide may have some snow, but it may not be freezing at night by then; it would likely be soft snow with a trough through it from hikers, and easily crossed. Much of the trail is completely exposed to sun, so snow only lingers in a few spots, but it wouldn’t be deep or a problem by then. You could call the park’s backcountry desk to ask the likelihood; I suspect they would tell you that the trail is usually passable in late July.

  Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons at right, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

  See all of my stories at The Big Outside about the Teton Crest Trail and Grand Teton National Park, including my feature stories “Walking Familiar Ground: Reliving Old Memories and Making New Ones on the Teton Crest Trail,” and “American Classic: The Teton Crest Trail,” and see all of my Ask Me posts about Grand Teton National Park.

Good luck with your trip planning.

Best, Michael

  I can help you plan the best backpacking, hiking, or family adventure of your life.

Got questions about hiking, backpacking, planning a family adventure, or any trip I’ve written about at The Big Outside? Email me at michael@thebigoutside.com. I’ll answer your questions to help ensure your trip is a success. See my Custom Trip Planning page for details.

—Michael Lanza

[earthstory]

Kakadu National Park.

This stunning image give a look out over Kakadu National Park, located in the Northern Territory, Australia. It covers an area 19,804 km2 , roughly the same size as Slovenia!

The name Kakadu comes from a mispronunciation of the word Gaagudju, the name of the Aboriginal Language formerly spoken in the region of the park.

The park encompasses several protected features including; the East, West and South Alligator rivers and the Wildman river, and contains 6 distinct landforms including; floodplains, low lands and hills and basins.

The biological diversity of the park is great, with around 60 mammal species, over 10,000 insect species, 280 bird species and 1,600 plant species all found here.

The park is located within the tropics, and its climate is monsoonal, and marked by two distinct seasons, a dry season with relatively low humidity and a maximum average temperature of 32 °C and A wet season with incredibly high humidity and average temperatures of 37.5 °C.

Also located within, and entirely surrounded by National Park is the Ranger Uranium Mine, an open pit mine, which is one of only 3 in the world to have produced in excess of 100,000 tonnes of Uranium Oxide. Commercial production began at Ranger in 1981, and for over 3 decadesz it has been providing uranium for power stations in Japan, South Korea, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the United States.

-LL

Links;

http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/

http://kakadu.com.au/

http://www.riotinto.com/ourbusiness/energy-resources-of-australia-ltd-4711.aspx

Image; David Hancock

[brajeshupadhyay]

The glories of the national park system draw hundreds of millions of visitors each year, even in normal times. But in this upside-down year, with the pandemic still limiting much travel in and outside the United States, it’s likely that the National Park Service’s 419 sites, 62 with a “national park” designation, will attract even more people looking to get away. For potential park-goers who wish to avoid these crowds (and this season, who doesn’t?), one strategy is to skip the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains and the other top 10 parks that typically receive the majority of visitors. There are alternatives that are still awe-inspiring for your summer and fall fresh-air retreats, ones that offer many of the Top Ten’s sights, sounds, wildlife and activities. You may need to drive, either for safety or a lack of transit options, but these lesser-known crown jewels, all off the beaten path, are almost always mercifully free of the large groups and car traffic found in the more popular parks. Wherever you decide to go, remember that this is a new world. As the majority of on-site visitor centers will remain closed, contacting the parks before your trip for up-to-date information and any necessary permits is highly recommended. For the parks’ main draws — the great outdoors — the reopenings are staggered and may be confusing; your desired destination may be limited to day-use, or welcome visitors during restricted hours or offer only backcountry camping. Local stores may be closed, too, so plan to bring food and all of your supplies. You might try camping to avoid crowded lodges, and even consider hauling a portable toilet. When you go, best to arrive early to avoid crowds, limited parking and the likelihood of being turned away at the gates. But heading to a new park and taking these new and necessary precautions will be worth it: to breathe in the fresh air, stretch your legs in the woods, dip a paddle in the water and rejuvenate in the natural world. South Carolina Congaree, instead of Great Smoky Mountains Congaree, a park named after the original Native American inhabitants, was created in central South Carolina to preserve 15 different species of trees that are the tallest such specimens anywhere. These includes the most statuesque loblolly pine in the world, towering 167 feet above the surrounding tupelo forest. Tree lovers know Congaree, with only 159,445 visitors last year, as the Redwoods of the East — this year it’s worth forgetting about nearby Great Smoky Mountains and its 12 million-plus visitors. Congaree reopened some of its hiking and paddling trails for day use on May 28, but the visitor center will remain closed until further notice. It’s best to experience this floodplain park — locals will bristle if you call it a swamp — on the water, paddling several different canoe trails or fishing for yellow perch or bass on its lakes. When the park offerings increase in its second phase of reopening, consider an overnight Congaree River paddle trip. Congaree National Park | Operating Status | Hopkins, S.C. | (803) 776-4396 Minnesota Voyageurs National Park, instead of Glacier Bay If you haven’t seen the Northern Lights, never mind Alaska. Instead, grab a camera and a paddle and head to Voyageurs National Park, named after the French Canadian canoeists who plied these waters three centuries ago. This park of lakes is 40 percent water and adjoins another 10,000 square miles of aquatic wilderness. Its remoteness, flanking the Canadian border in northern Minnesota, enables incredible stargazing opportunities all year long and an estimated 200 nights of Northern Lights (even in summer). While the 341-square-mile park reopened in mid May, its three visitor centers are likely to remain closed all summer. However, houseboat and canoe rentals are available online, along with permits for camping among the park’s hundreds of islands. Most visitors, less than a quarter million per year, come to fish the more than 50 different finned species, play on the water or listen to loons yodeling across the mirrored waters. Voyageurs National Park | Operating Status | International Falls, Minn. | (218) 283-6600 Colorado Great Sand Dunes or Black Canyon, instead of Rocky Mountain Reopening on this week, Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve features the highest dunes on the continent, towering 755 feet above the surrounding trails. These are set in an otherworldly catchment basin, below the 14,000-foot high Sangre de Cristo Mountains, some 200 miles south of Denver. All trails and one campground at this national park will be open, but overnight backcountry access and the visitor center remain closed. Sand boarding and fat-tire mountain biking are popular on and among the dunes, as is horseback riding on surrounding trails. If you want another sight, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is 195 miles west, and features a spectacular half-mile-deep river gorge that recently reopened for day use. Both parks average less than a half-million visitors per year, one tenth the traffic of nearby Rocky Mountain National Park, a roughly four-hour drive away. Great Sand Dunes National Park | Operating Status | Mosca, Colo. | (719) 378-6395 Texas Big Bend or the Guadalupe Mountains, instead of a trip to Mexico Opening for day use on June 1, this park in West Texas lies along the namesake curl of the Rio Grande, marking the Mexican border. At this renowned dark-sky park, you can count more than 2,000 stars — 10 times the number typically seen above most cities — surrounding the canvas of the Milky Way. During the days, especially when temperatures cool in the fall and early winter, enjoy 150 miles of trails throughout the park. You might be joined by a bird watcher or two, who roam Big Bend’s 1,200 square miles to spot more than 400 avian species, more than in any national park. This collection includes seldom-seen Southern migrants, such as Lucifer hummingbirds, black-tailed gnatcatchers and Colima warblers. Tens of thousands of fossils have also been discovered here. In 1971, fossil hunters poking around a dusty arroyo found a protruding bone belonging to a pterosaur with a 35-foot wing­span, now considered to have been the largest flying creature in the world. If Big Bend is too crowded for your taste, consider driving 235 miles north to the scantly visited Guadalupe Mountains National Park, along the border of New Mexico. Below the park’s mountains, originally formed by an ancient sea reef, are 2,000 acres of shining, white gypsum and pale-red quartz sand dunes. Big Bend National Park | Operating Status | Big Bend National Park, Texas | (432) 477-2251 Arizona Petrified Forest, instead of the Grand Canyon In east-central Arizona, 110 miles from Flagstaff, the Petrified Forest adjoins the Painted Desert, 7,500 square miles of badlands and hills tinted lavender and red by Triassic Age strata. The annual visitation of this park is one-tenth that of the nearby Grand Canyon. The Petrified Forest, a drive-through park, holds the greatest and most spectacular concentration of fossilized, coniferous tree logs in the world. Once a lush and subtropical climate, the forest of 200-foot-tall trees was buried by volcanic ash and preserved 225 million years ago. Now petrified into waxy, bright quartz, the tree pieces lay scattered across the Painted Desert, along with hundreds of plant and animal fossils, including dinosaurs, reptiles and ferns. The park also protects thousand-year-old Ancestral Puebloan rock art. The park, reopened to limited day use in last month, has a 28-mile main road with turnoffs for viewpoints. Its visitor center and other facilities are likely to open after mid-June. There are few trails, so hiking cross-country with map and compass is the optimal way to take in and discover the splendors of this park’s primordial remains. Be sure not to leave with any petrified wood in your pocket, lest you become, as local legend claims, cursed for life. Petrified Forest National Park | Operating Status | Petrified Forest, Ariz.| (928) 524-6228 Utah Canyonlands, instead of Arches Instead of ogling the sandstone formations in traffic-jammed Arches, opt for a wilderness desert experience amid the reddened Wingate sandstone in Canyonlands. Canyonlands is southwest of the tourist mecca of Moab, Utah. Most visitors take the Island in the Sky scenic drive out to spectacular overlooks, but otherwise the 527-square-mile park has few roads. Hardier souls go for multiday paddles down the gentle Green River, which, after its confluence with the Colorado, plunges into the maelstrom of Cataract Canyon. When the desert begins to cool in August, hikers and canyoneers can lose themselves to wonder on trails and backcountry routes that pass Ancestral Puebloan art sites and ruins. And though it’s not widely known, Canyonlands has its own natural sandstone arches (more than 80). You just have to walk a good distance to see them. Restrooms will open at the end of May, along with backcountry trails for overnight use. But the two visitor centers remain closed until further notice. Canyonlands National Park | Operating Status | Moab, Utah | (435) 719-2313 Nevada Great Basin, instead of the Grand Circle The “Grand Circle” marketing campaign pushed Utah’s national parks to record-setting visitations in recent years, but Great Basin — a few miles over the border in eastern Nevada — got left out of the loop. The 121-square-mile park is named after the enormous basin it sits in (spanning nearly all of Nevada, it is 20 times larger than the park), which pulls all water underground so that it can’t reach the ocean and other waterways. Updated June 2, 2020 Will protests set off a second viral wave of coronavirus? Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. How do we start exercising again without hurting ourselves after months of lockdown? Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home. My state is reopening. Is it safe to go out? States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. What’s the risk of catching coronavirus from a surface? Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. What are the symptoms of coronavirus? Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. How can I protect myself while flying? If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) How many people have lost their jobs due to coronavirus in the U.S.? More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said. Should I wear a mask? The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing. What should I do if I feel sick? If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. Yet this arid park has surprising diversity and, from cool caves as deep as 436 feet below ground to the 13,060-foot Wheeler Peak, a landscape like no other park you’ll visit. During a hike up Wheeler Peak, you can commune with some of the oldest living trees on earth. (It was here that the most ancient tree ever recorded — a Bristlecone pine named Prometheus, at 4,862 years old — was cut down by a researcher in 1964 before the park had been created.) The restrooms and park are open for day use only, with both visitor centers presently closed. Great Basin National Park | Operating Status | Baker, Nev. | (775) 234-7331 California Lassen Volcanic, instead of Yellowstone or Yosemite In place of the crowded Yellowstone geysers or Yosemite mountains, a panorama of wildflowers, volcanic peaks and steaming fumaroles can be seen at Lassen Volcanic, 180 miles north of Sacramento. The 30-mile park highway reopened in late May, along with most of the trails and overnight backcountry camping. The still-smoking, glacier-clad Lassen Peak is one of only two volcanoes in the contiguous 48 states that erupted in the 20th century (Mount St. Helens erupted 40 years ago last month). Today, more than 100 years after magma first flowed from the Lassen Peak, amateur volcanologists can delight in finding the remains of the four types of volcanoes: shield, cinder cone, strato and plug. The 167-square-mile park is also crisscrossed with 150 miles of trails for day hikes or extended backcountry trips. These wind up through different plant zones to alpine lakes, and hikers can expect to see a wealth of wildlife, there are more than 300 vertebrate species alone. If you fly fish or paddleboard, check out Manzanita Lake. Lassen Volcanic National Park | Operating Status | Mineral, Calif. | (530) 595-4480 Washington state North Cascades, instead of Mount Rainier Although still emerging from snow banks and currently open for only day use, North Cascades is typically one of the less-visited parks of the entire parks system, seeing less than 3 percent of Mount Rainier’s yearly traffic. Adjoining the Canadian border, 120 miles northeast of Seattle, this wilderness has only six miles of internal roads — all unpaved — and stretches over 1,000 square miles. It boasts 312 glaciers (12 times Mount Rainier’s), as well as more than 500 lakes and a lush carpet of old-growth evergreens. From its dry ponderosa pines in the east to the temperate rain forest in the west, this is landscape of tremendous biodiversity. It’s also a great place to beat the heat, watch one of the most intact wildlife populations in the lower 48 (the huge and remote acreage still offers ideal habitats for all its original species.) But don’t forget to play, whether on day hikes or epic backpacking tours, perhaps peak bagging, fishing, boating or horseback riding. North Cascades National Park | Operating Status | Sedro-Woolley, Wash. | (360) 854-7200 Jon Waterman, a former park ranger, is the author of National Geographic’s “Atlas of the National Parks” and 13 other books. He lives in Carbondale, Colo. The post 11 Great Alternatives to the Top National Parks appeared first on Sansaar Times.

http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/06/11-great-alternatives-to-top-national.html

[anestiefel]

10 of the Best Spring Getaways on the East Coast

Miami

Lifeguard tower on the beach in Miami/Oyster

It might sound like a no-brainer, but Miami is queen when it comes to East Coast spring getaways. A spring break hub, the city has way more to see and do than just chugging tropical drinks on Ocean Drive (though, a night of that is always fun, too). These days, Miami’s grown-up side makes it an equally awesome spring getaway for families, couples, and singles who aren’t just fresh out of college. We love the slightly more refined hotel-and-pool scene along Collins Avenue north of Lincoln Road in South Beach. But you should also make time to head inland. Wynwood — a prime street-art destination where you can book tours — is Miami’s Brooklyn and is flush with cafes and galleries. Looking for a little bit of culture? Little Havana is the beating heart of Miami’s Cuban community and is definitely worth a visit.

Our Miami Hotel Pick: The Setai Miami Beach

View of South Beach from The Setai Miami Beach/Oyster

Looking for a taste of the finer side of Miami? The Setai is definitely for you. This stunning beach resort features an amazing spa, fitness center, and free yoga on the beach, making this the kind of place where indulging doesn’t just mean amazing food and cocktails.

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Savannah, Georgia

The dreamy Savannah Historic District/Oyster

With mild to warm weather, Spanish moss hanging everywhere, and tons of history, Savannah makes an awesome spring getaway. Timing your visit before summer hits means you’ll get to enjoy the city before it withers under Georgia’s heat and humidity. You won’t be alone, though — spring marks one of Savannah’s peak seasons. Why is that? The flowers blooming across the city give it an even more magical atmosphere and there’s a lot to do. Savannah’s cultural calendar comes to life in the spring, with events that include the Savannah Music Festival plus numerous music and dance performances. Feel like partying? Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is legendary as well.

Our Savannah Hotel Pick: Mansion on Forsyth Park, Autograph Collection

The iconic red-brick facade of the Mansino on Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia/Oyster

It’s not right in the middle of the city’s tourist scene but that’s the point. That location helps make the Mansion on Forsyth Park is arguably one of the coolest hotels in town. Expect an amazing art collection, a great cooking school, and a well-liked restaurant all on-site.

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Charleston, South Carolina

The beach outside of Charleston, South Carolina/Oyster

A bit farther up the East Coast than Savannah, Charleston is equally as packed with tradition and history, all wrapped in an impossibly pretty package that’s been charming visitors for a long time. And like much of the southern U.S., mid to late spring can be beach season here. While the water will be chilly, daytime temperatures often merit showing a little skin and soaking up the sun. That weather also makes strolling the charming Charleston Historic District all the more pleasant. You’ll find the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens blooming, as well as many of the city’s historic private gardens. The late spring also brings the Piccolo Spoleto art festival, which takes place over the course of a few weeks starting in late May.

Our Charleston Hotel Pick: Market Pavilion Hotel

A suite at the Market Pavilion Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina/Oyster

If you’re hoping to be right in the heart of the Charleston Historic District, it’s hard to top the Market Pavilion Hotel’s location — as the name suggests — near City Market. The hotel itself is rich with history and has preserved its Old World style through and through.

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Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina

The Biltmore Estate outside of Asheville, North Carolina/Oyster

Springtime in Asheville and the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains is all about the outdoors. While the countryside here is most celebrated during the fall, you shouldn’t skip the spring months. Wildflowers are in abundance at this time of year, and the milder weather only adds to the magic. There are too many hikes to count in this region (check out Hickory Nut Gorge for starters), and the bright flowers of the wild rhododendron are everywhere during the later months of the season. Elsewhere, the gardens of the Biltmore Estate will be in early bloom as will the North Carolina Arboretum. Asheville itself is a great place to spend your day before and after you explore the great outdoors. Expect plenty of microbreweries, cafes, and excellent restaurants.

Our Asheville Hotel Pick: Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville, Autograph Collection

The Deluxe King Room at the Grand Bohemian Asheville/Oyster

Only a five-minute drive from downtown Asheville and right in the Biltmore Village, this charming hotel has its own atmosphere that’s worth a stay. Expect perks like live music, a spa, and an art gallery, as well as a prime location near the Biltmore Estate and plenty of trailheads.

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Berkshires, Massachusetts

Quaint scenes like this are all over the Berkshires/Oyster

This laid-back mountain region is wonderful to explore in the spring — you’ll just need to be prepared for an array of weather. If you head to the Berkshires in March, slopes like Ski Butternut and the Catamount Mountain Resort will be open, as snow is can be in abundance due to chilly temperatures. But if you visit later in the season, consider hiking parts of the Appalachian trail, fly fishing, or bird watching. If the outdoors isn’t quite your thing, the region has great spas, yoga studios, and an amazing art museum — Mass MoCA, which is in North Adams. Towns like Stockbridge and Lenox both have enough to keep visitors busy, from antiquing to cafe-hopping.

Where to Stay: The Red Lion Inn

The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Massachusetts/Oyster

This inn is a classic Berkshires hot spot, and it has everything you’d need to find peace and adventure. With incredible food, a pool, and fun bars on site, you don’t even need to hit the trails to have fun.

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Newport, Rhode Island

The coast and harbor of Newport, Rhode Island/Oyster

Newport, Rhode Island, is a quaint town with plenty of nautical fun. But what makes it so special are the small businesses and artistic culture that’s celebrated year-round. The seaside municipality is also well known for its historical preservation. In the spring, visitors can stroll through town and marvel at the opulent mansions that have made Newport famous, or explore Fort Adams State Park and its 19th-century fort. It might not be beach weather yet, but visitors can still enjoy the stunning Cliff Walk along the coast.

Where to Stay: Jail House Inn

The Jail House Inn in Newport, Rhode Island/Oyster

Just like its name suggests, this quaint Rhode Island inn used to be a jailhouse. But you’d never be able to tell. It’s within walking distance from the heart of the town and there’s a free breakfast in the morning.

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Washington D.C.

The White House lit up at night in Washington, D.C.

Around the world, spring heralds cherry blossom season. And while Japan is the most famous destination for taking in this stunning scene, the U.S. capital puts on a pretty amazing show when it comes to cherry blossoms. The tradition dates back to the early 20th century, when Tokyo gifted Washington D.C. with its first cherry trees. The official festivities generally take place in early April, and include the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Blooms can start in late March, though, so check ahead if you’re bent on visiting during peak bloom.

Our Washington, D.C. Hotel Pick: Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C.

The Mandarin Suite at the Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C./Oyster

The Mandarin Oriental chain is easily one of our favorite luxury hotel brands, and what better way to spend your cherry blossom weekend in D.C. than living it up in style. You’ll find everything from an excellent spa and fine dining to a great indoor pool. It’s only a 15-minute walk from the National Mall and sits along the beautiful Tidal Basin.

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Hilton Head Island, Georgia

Kayaking the lagoon near Hilton Head, Georgia/Oyster

Off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, Hilton Head Island might be small, but it has many attractions. Year after year it’s been voted one of the best places in the country for families to vacation together, as it has a lot to offer for people of all ages. Expect gorgeous beaches, sprawling golf courses, and lots of adorable ice cream parlors in town. Note that average high temperature in March is the upper 60s, but by May it’s the low 80s, which is certainly beach weather.

Our Hilton Head Hotel Pick: Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort

The Studio at Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort/Oyster

Bright and contemporary, this beachfront resort is a solid pick if you’re visiting in the later spring months, when temperatures are high and the ocean is calling. You can expect balconies in all rooms as well as kitchenettes.

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Catskills, New York

Street scene and antique shops in Phoenicia, New York/Oyster

The Catskills region in upstate New York is quickly becoming a rival to the Hudson Valley when it comes to cute towns and great atmosphere. Enjoy gorgeous hiking trails if it’s warm (May average highs are in the 60s) and epic ski trails if the cold is still hanging around (March average highs are in the 40s). Towns like Woodstock and New Paltz make for great daytime walkabouts — and have their own cool cafe-and-bar scene. Of course, antiquing is high on the list if you’re exploring the Catskills, and the region has it’s own must-visit local institutions, including the famous Phoenicia Diner. Even without foliage, Catskills hikes are stunning and come with amazing views. Check out Gertrude’s Nose in the Minnewaska State Preserve or the Fire Tower Hike in Woodstock (Overlook Mountain) if you’re after amazing scenery.

Where to Stay: The Roxbury

The Roxbury hotel is an attraction all on its own. It has a luxurious spa, and the decor is unlike anything else in the area. Each room embodies a different theme, ranging from The Noir Boudoir to the Angel Hair Room (dedicated to Farrah Fawcett) to The Archaeologist’s Digs.

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Manchester, Vermont

Early spring snow is common in Manchester, Vermont/Oyster

Manchester is a popular getaway in southern Vermont, tucked up high in the Green Mountains. Spring temperatures come late here, so this is a great destination for travelers looking to hit the slopes or explore the charming towns of Vermont when there’s still a chill in the air (apple cider, anyone?). The town of Manchester itself has great cafes, bars, and outlet shopping, while the mountains offer endless possibilities. March into April is still a great time to ski, and both Bromley Mountain and Stratton — one of the largest ski resorts in the northeast — are 15 and 45 minutes away by car, respectively.

Where to Stay: The Equinox

The beautiful The Equinox hotel in Manchester, Vermont/Oyster

The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa is a gigantic historic property with beautiful rooms and features including an indoor pool and spa. It’s perfect for families or individuals looking to pamper themselves or have a rustic adventure.

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You’ll Also Like:

Where to Go for Spring Break in the U.S.

The 9 Best Spring Break Party Destinations for Fun, Sun, and Nightlife

Where to Go in Europe in April

The post 10 of the Best Spring Getaways on the East Coast appeared first on Oyster.com.

from Oyster.com https://www.oyster.com/articles/8-of-the-best-spring-getaways-on-the-east-coast/ Publish First on IFTTT

[kdulgar-blog]

Shinichiro Ito President and CEO Chief Executive Officer of ANA All Nippon Airways Japan at The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. USA 2017

Shinichiro Ito President and CEO Chief Executive Officer of ANA All Nippon Airways Japan at The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. USA 2017

The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. USA

The 2017 event marks the 90th anniversary of the first festival and the 105th anniversary of Japan’s tree gift

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a spring celebration in Washington, D.C. commemorating the March 27, 1912 gift of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo City Japan to the city of Washington

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is known as the Nation’s Greatest Springtime Celebration!

Images are from the first weekend on The National Cherry Blossom Festival

National Park Service NPS predicted peak bloom March 19th thru 22nd 2017

Photos were taken while the cherry blossom trees were in the sixth of six stages of blooming called Peak Bloom which happened on March 25th 2017

* Approximately half of the Yoshino blossoms were lost due to a late frost that occurred March 14-16, 2017

Puffy white and peak bloom are defined as when 70% of the surviving blossoms reach those stages

Average peak bloom date is April 4th

Extraordinary warm or cool temperatures have resulted in peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958)

Peak bloom dates occurred on: 2017 March 25th 2016 March 25th 2015 April 10th 2014 April 10th 2013 April 9th 2012 March 20th 2011 March 29th 2010 March 31st 2009 April 1st 2008 March 29th 2007 April 1st 2006 March 30th 2005 April 9th 2004 March 31st 2003 April 2nd 2002 April 2nd 2001 April 6th 2000 March 17th 1999 April 5th 1998 March 27th 1997 March 26th 1996 April 4th 1995 April 2nd 1994 April 5th 1993 April 11th 1992 April 5th 1991 March 29th

Origins of the cherry trees in DC: Viscountess Chinda was the wife of the Japanese ambassador. She and Mrs. Taft planted the first two cherry trees at the Tidal Basin March 27th 1912 The ceremony of planting these trees grew into the National Cherry Blossom Festival This special part of history is celebrated through many events and is also commemorated with a large, bronze plaque at the site of the first planting

Also of importance is Dr. David Fairchild, a prominent botanist who planted the first cherry trees in D.C.

WASHINGTON DC history

Washington, D.C. formally the District of Columbia is the capital of the United States of America since July 16, 1790

The state of Maryland donated land to create what is now known as Washington, D.C.

Virginia had also donated land which was returned to Virgina in 1846

Washington, D.C. is not in a state but there is a movement for statehood which would have the name of the 51st state as New Columbia

The United States of America declared independance from Great Britain in 1776

Video taken while Donald Trump was in office at The White House as President of The United States of America

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Japanese Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae said at a press conference on March 02, 2017 "I don’t need to say, ‘Make this cherry blossom festival great again,’ because it’s already great."

Hashtag metadata tag #TheNationalCherryBlossomFestival #NationalCherryBlossomFestival ‪#CherryBlossomFestival #NCBF #CherryBlossomFestival ‪#CherryBlossom ‪#CherryBlossoms ‪#CherryBlossomDC #CherryBlossomsDC #CherryDC ‪#WashingtonDC ‪#Washington ‪#DC ‪#TheDistrictofColumbia ‪#DistrictofColumbia ‪#TheDistrict #District #NewColumbia ‪#Japan ‪#Japanese #Instagram @allnipponairways_official #allnipponairwaysofficial ‪#BlossomMoments #BlossomMoment #Facebook @ana.northamerica #ananorthamerica #Twitter @FlyANA_official #FlyANAofficial #memory #memories #flower ‪#flowers ‪#spingflowers ‪#ThankYouJapan ‪#WelcomeSpring ‪#Spring ‪#Springtime ‪#Springequinox ‪#VernalEquinox #Ostara #Ēostre #Eostre ‪#pink ‪#pinkcolor ‪#colorpink ‪#pinkflower ‪#pinkflowers ‪‪#US #USA #VisitJapan #ILoveJapan #2017

Photo Washington, D.C. District of Columbia, (New Columbia state), The United States of America USA country, North America continent Saturday March 25th 2017‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Posted by RYANISLAND on 2017-04-04 09:39:40

Tagged: , The National Cherry Blossom Festival , National Cherry Blossom Festival , Cherry Blossom Festivals , Cherry Blossom Festival , Cherry Blossom , Cherry Blossoms , Cherry , Blossom , Blossoms , Washington DC , Washington , DC , 17 , 2017 , Japan , Japanese , Sakura Matsuri , Sakura , Matsuri , Welcome Spring

The post Shinichiro Ito President and CEO Chief Executive Officer of ANA All Nippon Airways Japan at The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. USA 2017 appeared first on Good Info.

[newseveryhourly]

Depths of lakes that hold about 90% of US’s freshwater spiking to record levels, from 14in to nearly 3ft above long-term averages ‘There’s no doubt that we are in a region where climate change is having an impact,’ said Richard B Rood, a University of Michigan professor. Photograph: Colter Peterson/APThis summer, as rain relentlessly poured down on the Great Lakes region, Detroit declared a rare state of emergency. The swollen Detroit River had spilled into the low-lying Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood – an event not seen near this scale since 1986.Volunteers sandbagged the area as the city’s overwhelmed sewer system spilled raw sewage into the river, which connects Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Across the channel from Jefferson Chalmers, water damaged the historic boathouse on Belle Isle, a 982-acre island park that remains partly shut down because of flooding.Meanwhile, in Duluth, Minnesota, the city is rebuilding after a powerful storm over Lake Superior damaged a popular pedestrian path, eroded acres of lakefront property and ravaged infrastructure along the shore.About 800 miles to the east, floods hit Buffalo, New York, on Lake Erie in two of the last three years, while Lake Michigan’s historically high waters inundated parts of Chicago throughout the spring and summer months.The havoc wreaked on communities bordering the Great Lakes is a result of their water level steadily rising over the last five years and spiking to record levels this spring and summer. In 2019, the lakes’ depths ranged from 14in to nearly 3ft above long-term averages, according to data from the US army corps of engineers. In June, water in the Lakes St Clair, Ontario, Superior and Erie set records for monthly mean levels, while Lake Michigan-Huron rose to 1in from its recorded peak.That is leading to widespread damage in coastal cities, eroded shorelines and beaches and many other issues. The record levels come just five years after the lakes experienced historically low levels in 2014, and climate scientists say it is clear what’s fueling the drastic swing: the Earth’s rising temperatures.“Bigger picture, it’s climate change,” said Richard B Rood, a professor in the University of Michigan’s department of climate and space sciences and engineering. “There’s no doubt that we are in a region where climate change is having an impact.”Rood said the Great Lakes basin, which holds 90% of the nation’s freshwater, can expect similar shifts in the coming decades as world temperatures increase.Climate scientists say a confluence of climate crisis-related issues resulted in this year’s levels. Warmer air over the Gulf of Mexico caused more evaporation, and that moisture pushed into the region during the spring and summer. Higher temperatures give the atmosphere more capacity to hold evaporated water, Rood said, which is why storms are dumping more rain than 50 years ago.“When you’re in wet periods, you start to get persistent, basin-wide extreme precipitation,” he said.The numbers back that up. By May, Cleveland, Ohio on Lake Erie’s shore saw more rainy days than any year since 1953. Muskegon, on Lake Michigan’s shore, experienced 7.45in more rainfall than average throughout the first eight months, while Sault Ste Marie on Lake Superior tallied about 9in more than average for the same period. Buffalo saw 34% more rain than typical.The moisture rained down on ground and lakes already more saturated than usual because a January polar vortex brought frigid temperatures that prevented wintertime evaporation crucial to keeping water levels in check. Meanwhile, a heavy snow pack melted. pushing up levels even further.“We’re seeing all these things that have an effect on the water cycle converge, which is why we’re having these enormous water volumes,” Rood said.Though the region finally dried out a bit in August and water levels are slightly receding, the Great Lakes’ fall storm season is fast approaching. Fall is a time of high winds and the agency’s six-month forecast predicts levels will remain very high, thus there’s a strong likelihood for even more damage this year.Coastal communities need to give the storms and fluctuating lake levels stronger consideration when building near the shoreline, said Richard Norton, an urban and regional planning professor at the University of Michigan. There’s still an inclination to build as close to the water as possible, which was especially a problem as levels began dropping in the early 2000s.“People want to build in the most beautiful, fragile and dangerous places, and that’s challenging because of the way the lakes go up and down over time in a weird way … and it’s not a good idea,” Norton said.The changes have an impact on the lakes’ ecosystems and natural environment, but it’s a mixed bag. While erosion is an issue, the basin is resilient and has withstood similar variability in the past, said Mark Breederland, an extension director with the environmental agency Michigan Sea Grant.He said extreme fluctuations can benefit the coastal wetlands and some species, while other species, such as the endangered piping plover, face new threats. Meanwhile, the impact of continued climate change on the Great Lakes’ ecosystem is still unknown, Breederland said.However, there is more certainty with water levels. Long-term, as temperature increases continue, the region will see levels “bouncing from low extreme to high extremes”, Rood said, though the lakes will eventually start to disappear if temperatures aren’t brought under control.“If we don’t mitigate our emissions … and the temperature gets to a certain level, then it does become evaporation dominant,” he said.• This article was corrected on 3 September 2019 to situate Buffalo, New York, on Lake Erie rather than Lake Ontario.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/34mq8eI

[morningusa]

Depths of lakes that hold about 90% of US’s freshwater spiking to record levels, from 14in to nearly 3ft above long-term averages ‘There’s no doubt that we are in a region where climate change is having an impact,’ said Richard B Rood, a University of Michigan professor. Photograph: Colter Peterson/APThis summer, as rain relentlessly poured down on the Great Lakes region, Detroit declared a rare state of emergency. The swollen Detroit River had spilled into the low-lying Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood – an event not seen near this scale since 1986.Volunteers sandbagged the area as the city’s overwhelmed sewer system spilled raw sewage into the river, which connects Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Across the channel from Jefferson Chalmers, water damaged the historic boathouse on Belle Isle, a 982-acre island park that remains partly shut down because of flooding.Meanwhile, in Duluth, Minnesota, the city is rebuilding after a powerful storm over Lake Superior damaged a popular pedestrian path, eroded acres of lakefront property and ravaged infrastructure along the shore.About 800 miles to the east, floods hit Buffalo, New York, on Lake Erie in two of the last three years, while Lake Michigan’s historically high waters inundated parts of Chicago throughout the spring and summer months.The havoc wreaked on communities bordering the Great Lakes is a result of their water level steadily rising over the last five years and spiking to record levels this spring and summer. In 2019, the lakes’ depths ranged from 14in to nearly 3ft above long-term averages, according to data from the US army corps of engineers. In June, water in the Lakes St Clair, Ontario, Superior and Erie set records for monthly mean levels, while Lake Michigan-Huron rose to 1in from its recorded peak.That is leading to widespread damage in coastal cities, eroded shorelines and beaches and many other issues. The record levels come just five years after the lakes experienced historically low levels in 2014, and climate scientists say it is clear what’s fueling the drastic swing: the Earth’s rising temperatures.“Bigger picture, it’s climate change,” said Richard B Rood, a professor in the University of Michigan’s department of climate and space sciences and engineering. “There’s no doubt that we are in a region where climate change is having an impact.”Rood said the Great Lakes basin, which holds 90% of the nation’s freshwater, can expect similar shifts in the coming decades as world temperatures increase.Climate scientists say a confluence of climate crisis-related issues resulted in this year’s levels. Warmer air over the Gulf of Mexico caused more evaporation, and that moisture pushed into the region during the spring and summer. Higher temperatures give the atmosphere more capacity to hold evaporated water, Rood said, which is why storms are dumping more rain than 50 years ago.“When you’re in wet periods, you start to get persistent, basin-wide extreme precipitation,” he said.The numbers back that up. By May, Cleveland, Ohio on Lake Erie’s shore saw more rainy days than any year since 1953. Muskegon, on Lake Michigan’s shore, experienced 7.45in more rainfall than average throughout the first eight months, while Sault Ste Marie on Lake Superior tallied about 9in more than average for the same period. Buffalo saw 34% more rain than typical.The moisture rained down on ground and lakes already more saturated than usual because a January polar vortex brought frigid temperatures that prevented wintertime evaporation crucial to keeping water levels in check. Meanwhile, a heavy snow pack melted. pushing up levels even further.“We’re seeing all these things that have an effect on the water cycle converge, which is why we’re having these enormous water volumes,” Rood said.Though the region finally dried out a bit in August and water levels are slightly receding, the Great Lakes’ fall storm season is fast approaching. Fall is a time of high winds and the agency’s six-month forecast predicts levels will remain very high, thus there’s a strong likelihood for even more damage this year.Coastal communities need to give the storms and fluctuating lake levels stronger consideration when building near the shoreline, said Richard Norton, an urban and regional planning professor at the University of Michigan. There’s still an inclination to build as close to the water as possible, which was especially a problem as levels began dropping in the early 2000s.“People want to build in the most beautiful, fragile and dangerous places, and that’s challenging because of the way the lakes go up and down over time in a weird way … and it’s not a good idea,” Norton said.The changes have an impact on the lakes’ ecosystems and natural environment, but it’s a mixed bag. While erosion is an issue, the basin is resilient and has withstood similar variability in the past, said Mark Breederland, an extension director with the environmental agency Michigan Sea Grant.He said extreme fluctuations can benefit the coastal wetlands and some species, while other species, such as the endangered piping plover, face new threats. Meanwhile, the impact of continued climate change on the Great Lakes’ ecosystem is still unknown, Breederland said.However, there is more certainty with water levels. Long-term, as temperature increases continue, the region will see levels “bouncing from low extreme to high extremes”, Rood said, though the lakes will eventually start to disappear if temperatures aren’t brought under control.“If we don’t mitigate our emissions … and the temperature gets to a certain level, then it does become evaporation dominant,” he said.• This article was corrected on 3 September 2019 to situate Buffalo, New York, on Lake Erie rather than Lake Ontario.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines